| If this website has been useful to you, please consider
making a Donation.
Your support will help keep this website free for everyone, and will allow us to do
more research. Thank you for your support! |
5th Michigan Cavalry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Fifth Michigan Cavalry. — Cols., Joseph T. Copeland,
Freeman Norvell, Russell A. Alger, Smith H. Hastings; Lieut. -Cols.,
William D. Mann, Ebenezer Gould, Edward M. Lee; Majs., Freeman Norvell,
Ebenezer Gould, Luther S. Trowbridge, Myron Hickey, Crawley P. Dake,
John E. Clark, Stephen P. Purdy, Robert C. Wallace. This regiment was
organized at Detroit and was mustered into the U. S. service Aug. 30,
1862. It left Detroit Dec. 4, 1862, for Washington, D. C, with an
enrollment of 1,144 officers and men. Soon after the arrival of the
regiment at Washington it was assigned to the Michigan cavalry brigade,
composed of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Mich. cavalry, and these regiments
served together during the war. In June, 1863, the brigade met the
Confederate Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry near Hanover, Pa., and drove
it back in a spirited charge, afterward dismounting and fighting on
foot. In this engagement the 5th lost severely. On July 3 the regiment,
with the brigade, had one of the severest cavalry engagements of the war
with Stuart's forces and won a decisive victory in repelling the enemy's
attack, driving him back so he could no longer threaten the rear of the
Union lines. The next day the regiment started to intercept Gen. Lee's
army that was in full retreat upon Williamsport. It charged across a
bridge on the side of the mountain leading to Williamsport, where the
enemy's wagon train was passing, and with the brigade captured 1,500
prisoners and destroyed a large wagon train. A few days later it met the
enemy near Boonsboro, where it was dismounted and charged the
Confederates who were behind stone walls, but the charge of the regiment
was so impetuous that the enemy was driven in confusion. It took an
active part in the engagement at Falling Waters, Md., where the
Confederates were put to flight by the gallant charges of the Michigan
men. The regiment returned to Virginia after Gen. Lee had crossed the
Potomac and in September fought at Culpeper Court House, Raccoon ford,
White's ford and Jack's shop. The regiment was in the fight at James
City, and had a severe engagement with the enemy at Buckland mills,
where it first fought on foot and then in a mounted charge drove the
enemy pell mell for 2 miles. It was in the terrible battle of the
Wilderness, on the Brock road, and also at Haw's shop, where the
regiment was dismounted, as the country was too wooded to successfully
maneuver cavalry, and, with the other regiments of the brigade, charged
the enemy and a desperate hand-to-hand encounter took place. Two battle
flags were captured by the regiment at the Opequan and it did gallant
service at Winchester, Luray, Port Republic, Mt. Crawford, Woodstock,
Cedar creek, Newton and Madison Court House. It was with Gen. Sheridan
when the Union forces moved in the direction of Gordonsville and
Richmond and drove Gen. Rosser from Louisa Court House, where a large
amount of property was destroyed, together with the depot and railroad
and aqueducts on the line of the James river canal, seriously
interfering with Gen. Lee's sources of supplies. After the surrender of
Gen. Lee the regiment marched to Washington, where it took part in the
grand review; was then sent to the far West, and was finally mustered
out in Utah. Its total enrollment was 1,866 ; number killed in action,
101; died of wounds, 24; died while prisoners of war, 69; died of
disease, 109; discharged for disability, 196. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
|
Whats New
Bibliography
About Us
Share this page with your friends!
|